The market of minicars - Italy (2024)

1.2 The world market

minicars, compact and efficient vehicles, are increasingly appreciated for their practicality in urban areas due to their small size and lower environmental impact. The sector is benefiting from growing demand due to sensitivity to emissions and the desire for more economical and sustainable mobility solutions.

In ****, it is worth $**.** billion, and is expected to grow steadily at a CAGR of *.** percent to reach $**.** billion in ****. Between **** and ****, the total projected growth is **.*%. The largest increases occur mainly in the years after ****, with more accelerated growth toward the end of the period, exceeding ** billion as early as ****. This trend points to a strong expansion of the industry globally.

World minicar market value World, ****-****, billion euros Univ Datos

Geographic and major player analysis

The market for quadricycles is predominantly European and developed in France, Italy and Spain. The most popular brands of manufacturing companies are Aixam, Casalini, Chatenet, Ligier and Microcar, and as an engine manufacturer the Italian company Lombardini.

Source: ****

1.3 The Italian market

The estimated value trend of the Italian minicar market between **** and ****, expressed in millions of euros, is shown. The data were obtained by approximating the market value based on the average minicar price of about **,*** euros, multiplied by the number of registrations of heavy and light quadricycles in each year. From **** to ****, the market value remained relatively stable, fluctuating between ** and ** million euros. Starting in ****, there is a significant increase, with the market rising from **.** million euros in **** to ***.** million in ****, and continuing to grow to ***.** million euros in ****.

Compared to the global market, Italy represents a small fraction. Globally, the market increases from €*.** billion in **** to €**.** billion in ****, a growth of ***%.

Production sold by value of quadricycles Italy, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****

In ****, registrations of heavy quadricycles totaled *** units, while those of light quadricycles reached *,*** units. In ****, heavy quadricycles rose to *,*** registrations, while light quadricycles dropped to *,***. For heavy quadricycles, a *** percent increase is observed between **** and ****. In contrast, light quadricycles increased only until ****, and then decreased, while still registering a **% growth over ****. Overall, heavy quadricycles steadily outperformed light quadricycles from **** onward, particularly in **** and ****, when registrations of the heavy ones remained higher than the light ones.

Registrations ...

1.4 Import-export

light quadricycles, which include minicars, are popular vehicles in the Italian market, especially for urban mobility and for users with special needs. The imports and exports obtained with the following code (***) of these vehicles provide insight into the trade balance of this segment.

It is clear from the graph that Italy is heavily dependent on imports for these vehicles. Imports have consistently exceeded exports in all years considered. In ****, imports amounted to $***.** million, while exports were much lower at only $**.** million. This imbalance generated a rather low coverage rate (***) of *.** percent.

In subsequent years, the trend remained similar, with a slight decline in imports and exports. In ****, imports dropped to $***.** million, but exports declined further to $**.** million, with a slightly increased coverage rate at *.* percent, the highest in the entire period.

Import and export of light motorcycles not exceeding **cc power Italy,****-****,Million dollars UN comtrade

Germany is the main export market for Italy, with a value of $**.** million, followed by France with $**.** million. Austria and the Netherlands occupy the third and fourth places, respectively, with $**.** and $*.** million.

Spain ranks fifth with *.** million, while exports to the United States amount to *.* million. Belgium, Slovenia, Canada and Slovakia follow, with values ...

1.5 The development of the market

In ****, registered motor vehicles amounted to nearly * million units in total. Of these, quadricycles intended for people saw a number of new registrations of **.*** vehicles, *.** percent of the total registrations that occurred in ****

Data released by UNRAE, on motorcycles, indicate a significant increase in the market share of quadricycles over the years, reaching very high levels in ****. This could be attributed to increased awareness of the benefits of quadricycles, consumer preferences moving toward more compact and sustainable means of transportation, or the introduction of new models and technologies in the quadricycle sector. Specifically, in ****, the market share of quadricycles rose to *.** percent. This figure suggests a growing popularity of quadricycles as a personal transportation choice.

Market shares of quadricycles for people Italy, ****-****, in percent Source: ****

2.1 The demand for minicars in italy

data on the volume production of microcars, i.e., light or heavy quadricycles, in Italy from **** to **** show some interesting trends. Regarding light quadricycles, a steady decrease in production during the period considered can be seen in the graph below. Only in **** production had a slight increase to ***. On the other hand, the data indicate a significant increase in the production of heavy quadricycles. In ****, production was *,*** units, which increased to *,*** units in ****. There may be several reasons behind these trends. The decrease in the production of light quadricycles could be influenced by changes in consumer preferences, a reduction in demand, or other market factors. The increase in production of heavy quadricycles could reflect greater demand from car-sharing companies or the commercial sector that use electric versions of these vehicles for specific purposes, such as logistics or freight transport. Volume production of quadricycles by type Italy, ****-****, in units Source: ANCMA light quadricycles make up **.** percent of registrations, while heavy quadricycles account for **.** percent. This distribution shows a clear predominance of light quadricycles over heavy quadricycles in the registration market for that year. Heavy and light quadricycles registration percentage Italy,****,percentage The graph below shows an increase in new quadricycle registrations ...

2.2 Safety of minicars compared to mopeds

Minicars and mopeds are two popular means of transportation, but they differ significantly in terms of safety. Minicars, due to their bodywork, offer greater protection in the event of an accident than mopeds, reducing the risk of serious injury, especially in frontal or side collisions. Mopeds, in contrast, have no protective structure, fully exposing driver and passenger. Some modern minicars include advanced safety systems such as airbags, ABS, and seat belts, while in mopeds, only high-end models offer ABS. Both vehicles present rollover risks, but minicars, because of their high center of gravity, are prone to rollovers especially during sharp maneuvers, although electronic controls can mitigate this risk. Mopeds, on the other hand, are more unstable in adverse weather conditions or on slippery surfaces, increasing the risk of crashes. Road accident data show that minicar drivers have lower rates of serious injury than motorcyclists, but minicars, when involved in crashes, often experience impacts at higher speeds with potentially fatal consequences. Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, with a much higher risk of serious or fatal injury. Minicars also offer greater protection against the elements, reducing the risk of accidents caused by loss of control, while mopeds are greatly affected ...

2.3 Determinants of demand

The needs of an urban population: safe and modern

Light quadricycles have several advantages that make them the preferred urban vehicle, such as:

Small size facilitates parking (***) this can also prove useful during multiple deliveries. Fuel economy (***); Low Co* emissions for reduced environmental impact, which in the case of electric quadricycles is zero; A reduced speed of ** km/h or ** km/h, more suitable for urban driving; CVT (***) transmission that is easier to use; A form of driving that encourages better driver awareness[***].

The increase in demand for quadricycles

Microcars have been rapidly converting to electric in recent years. In ****, the demand for electric vehicles for use in shared fleets and other shared mobility services along with purchases by private individuals supported the growth of the electric vehicle market, which marked an overall +**.* percent over ****. In particular, electric quadricycles had the highest registration growth among all zero-emission vehicles, registering +***.* percent over ****. Thus, registered quadricycles increased from *** to **** units in ****. However, the two-wheeler market, with scooters at the head of the line, remains the largest with **,*** new vehicles registered in **** (***)[***].

Sales of electric vehicles Italy, ****-****, in units Source: ****

Quadricycles are becoming increasingly strategic in urban mobility in cities. In ****, in particular, ...

2.4 Geographical distribution of demand

The Northeast regions show the highest value, with an average expenditure of *.** euros, followed by the Northwest with *.** euros. In the Center, the average expenditure stands at *.** euros.

The areas with the lowest spending are in the South and the Islands, with *.** euros and *.** euros, respectively. This gap indicates a clear difference in spending habits between geographic areas, with the North investing more in the purchase of transportation than the South and Islands.

2.5 Online interest in minicars

Regions with the highest number of searches are highlighted in dark blue, while those with fewer searches are represented in lighter tones. According to the data, Sicily is the region with the highest number of searches, with a value of ***, followed by Molise (***). In contrast, regions in northern Italy, such as Lombardy (***), register less interest. The region with the lowest value is Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, with only ** searches.

In October ****, interest was quite high, with a value of **.*. Thereafter, it decreased until November ****, when it reached a low of **.*. During the first months of ****, interest remained stable around **-** points, with a slight decline in April **** (***). A significant peak is observed in September **** with **.**, followed by another decline and recovery in September ****, when the index reached **.*, before falling to ** in October ****.

Online interest in "minicar" Italy,**** Google Trends

3.1 Distribution channels

these vehicles, very popular among the young and the elderly, constitute a specific niche within the broader market for motorcycles and mopeds. The production and sale of minicars in Italy is closely linked to the demand for sustainable mobility and regulations on low-emission vehicles.

The graph shows the trend of motorcycle manufacturing (***) in Italy from **** to ****, expressed in hundreds of units. From **** to ****, production remained relatively stable, ranging between *** and *** units, peaking in **** with *** units. However, a drastic decline is observed in ****, with production dropping to *** units, less than half the previous year's level.

In ****, the sector peaked with a total of *,*** companies. In ****, there is a slight decrease to *,***, followed by a slight recovery in **** to *,***. From **** to ****, the number remains relatively stable, with small changes ranging from *,*** in **** to *,*** in ****. Despite a decline from ****, the sector shows resilience, with small fluctuations over the years Trade, maintenance and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories Italia,****-****,Migliaia Istat; Business Register in ****, the number of companies was *,***, followed by a slight decrease in **** to *,***. From **** onward, a steady increase is observed, with the total rising from *,*** in **** to *,*** in **** and continuing to grow in **** and ****, reaching *,*** and *,*** respectively . This ...

3.2 Production and development

The largest distributors in the microcar industry are shown with their respective turnovers for ****

Aixam: Founded in **** in France, Aixam is one of the leading minicar manufacturers in Europe. it is known for offering both electric and thermal models, with an emphasis on safety and comfort. In Italy, Aixam has a network of more than *** distributors and offers a wide range of vehicles, from entry-level models to the most advanced quadricycles. Ligier: Ligier is also a French minicar manufacturer with a long tradition, famous for its commitment to building safe, lightweight vehicles. Ligier offers a range of vehicles with innovative technologies and a focus on ecology, thanks to electric models such as the Ligier Myli. Citroën (***): Citroën Ami is a particularly economical electric minicar designed for urban mobility and young drivers. Citroën is part of the Stellantis group, and the Ami is valued for its competitive price and leasing options. Microlino: Microlino is an electric minicar produced by Swiss company Micro Mobility Systems, which is inspired by the retro design of the ****s Isetta. With its compact design and range of up to *** km, Microlino has become popular in the Italian market.

Distributor Name Turnover Aixam € **.** million Ligier € ...

3.3 The value chain

The minicar value chain encompasses several stages, from design and development, through materials procurement, production, distribution, and sales, to after-sales services and end-of-life management of the vehicle. The process begins with design, focusing on efficiency, safety and innovations such as electric motors, followed by procurement of components and lightweight materials. At the production stage, minicars are assembled with a focus on quality. Next, distribution ensures that the vehicles reach markets, supported by marketing strategies that highlight their benefits to urban audiences. The cycle concludes with after-sales services, including maintenance and repair, and finally with recycling of materials to reduce environmental impact. Each stage contributes to the increased value of the final product and its competitiveness in the marketplace.

4.1 Supply analysis

Microcars or quadricycles offer different features and options to suit users' needs. Some models have internal combustion engines, while others use electric motors to reduce environmental impact and improve energy efficiency. These vehicles usually offer seating for one or two people, with limited space for cargo. As shown in the table below, microcar offerings in Italy include a variety of brands and models. There are Italian and foreign companies that manufacture and market quadricycles in the country. Some of the best known brands include Aixam, Ligier, Microcar, Casalini, and Estrima.

Source: ****

4.2 The prices

in ****, the index was ***.*, and it followed a steady upward trend in subsequent years. In ****, it increased to ***.*, continuing to rise to ***.* in **** and ***.* in ****.

The increase was most significant in ****, when the index reached ***.*, and then peaked at ***.* in ****. This increase indicates continued growth in motorcycle and moped prices, which in the past five years was **.* percent from **** to ****. The trend reflects inflation and possible changes in production costs, raw materials, and market demand for these vehicles.

Consumer price index for the whole community for Motorcycles and Mopeds Italy, ****-****, (***) - annual averages Istat

We wanted to provide monthly data after presenting annual data to offer an even more precise analysis of the price trends for motorcycles and mopeds in Italy. The index starts at ***.* in September **** and fluctuates slightly over the months. Between October and November ****, it drops slightly to ***.*, and then rises again to ***.* between January and February ****.

In the period from March to May, the index fluctuates slightly between ***.* and ***.*, stabilizing around ***.* in the summer months. Finally, the index closes at ***.* in September ****. This monthly detail shows remarkable price stability, with minimal changes around ***.* to ***.*, indicating no significant changes during the year.

Monthly consumer price index for ...

5.1 Current regulations

In Italy, light and heavy quadricycles are regulated by various laws and regulations that establish the conditions for their circulation and use on the roads. Below are some current regulations in Italy.

The Highway Code

The Italian Highway Code, contained in Legislative Decree No. ***/****, regulates road traffic and defines the rules that apply to vehicles, including quadricycles. For example, it establishes the driving license requirements needed to drive a quadricycle, speed regulations, load limits, use of lights, and other road safety provisions.

Article ** of the Highway Code, concerning vehicle classification, clarifies in paragraph * what is meant by light and heavy quadricycles. Vehicle category L*e refers to light quadricycles and motorcycles whose unladen mass is less than or equal to *** kg, excluding the mass of batteries for electric vehicles, whose maximum speed by construction is less than or equal to ** km/h, and whose engine displacement is less than or equal to ** cm^* for spark-ignition engines; or whose maximum net power output is less than or equal to * kW for other engines, internal combustion; or whose maximum continuous rated power output is less than or equal to * kW for electric motors[***].

The L*e category of vehicles, on the other hand, ...

6.1 Segmentation

Source: ****

• Chatenet
• Aixam
• Ligier
• XEV
• Tazzari EV
• Estrima
• Casalini
• Lombardini - Gruppo Kohler